SYDNEY, Australia - A 39-year old man appeared before a Sydney court on Wednesday charged with a hoax bomb threat against a flight from Mumbai to Singapore.

On 26 March 2019, the man from the regional city of Newcastle, which is located 162 kilometres north of Sydney, allegedly called Mumbai International Airport from his home to report a bomb was on board the flight.

The hoax caused significant disruption and delays to airlines and passengers in Singapore and also resulted in the Republic of Singapore Air Force being called in to action.

As a result of extensive liaison between Singapore authorities and the Australian Federal Police, the Newcastle man was identified as the man who placed the call.

Australian police officers located the man at Sydney International Airport where he was arrested and charged with using a carriage service for hoax threat.

Australian Federal Police Airport Police Commander, Superintendent Peter Mullins said any threat to an airline is taken extremely seriously.

"A hoax threat is a serious matter that causes significant repercussions for the airline, airport, responding agencies and members of the public," he said Wednesday.